Australia
Brazil
Canada
Germany
India
Ireland
Japan
Mexico
New Zealand
Philippines
South Africa
United Kingdom
Democracy Decoded
Also in Politics
Government
Democracy Paradox
by Justin Kempf
Today: #94 in Government on our combined chart.
Today: #109 in Government, United Kingdom on our combined chart.
Today: #108 in Government, Brazil on our combined chart.
Today: #138 in Government, Mexico on our combined chart.
Today: #188 in Government, Ireland on our combined chart.
Today: #121 in Government, India on our combined chart.
Today: #95 in Government, South Africa on our combined chart.
Chart positions today · United States
Not on the Canada charts we track today.
Not on the Australia charts we track today.
Not on the Germany charts we track today.
Not on the New Zealand charts we track today.
Not on the Japan charts we track today.
Not on the Philippines charts we track today.
If you like Democracy Paradox, try…
Law and Chaos
Also in Politics
Law Report
Also in Politics
You Might Be Right
Also in Politics
Executive Functions Chat
Also in Politics
The Oath and The Office
Also in Politics
Ranking history · United States
Latest daily rankings: Oct 27. New rankings will appear after the next update.
Position on the Government combined chart over the last 14 days. Toggle platforms to compare their positions. Lower rank numbers are better.
Episode releases
View as table
| Date | Combined Rank | Apple Podcasts | Castbox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 27 | #94 | #98 | #85 |
| Oct 26 | #79 | #77 | — |
| Oct 25 | #108 | #104 | — |
| Oct 24 | #136 | #137 | — |
| Oct 23 | #200 | — | #62 |
| Oct 22 | #51 | #48 | #80 |
| Oct 21 | #89 | #89 | #89 |
| Oct 20 | #103 | #108 | #80 |
| Oct 19 | #168 | #169 | — |
| Oct 18 | #108 | #107 | — |
| Oct 17 | #110 | #109 | — |
| Oct 16 | #178 | #180 | — |
| Oct 15 | #93 | #97 | #85 |
| Oct 14 | #90 | #93 | #92 |
Latest episodes
-
Michael McFaul Says Powerful Autocracies as a Lasting Threat
October 14, 2026 · 47 minWe don’t need to export ideas about freedom and democracy because those ideas are already really popular around the world. Michael McFaul Why do some powerful countries become adversaries while others remain enduring allies? Michael McFaul…
-
Ian Shapiro Says the Left's "Preemptive Capitulation" to Neoliberalism Paved the Way for Populism
September 30, 2026 · 49 minIf we want people to support democratic capitalism, it has to be a kind of democratic capitalism that delivers for most people, and we haven't had that. Ian Shapiro What went wrong after the Cold War – and what can democracies learn from…
-
Noam Lupu Says Support for Democracy Is Growing in the Americas, But Not Necessarily Liberal Democracy
September 16, 2026 · 45 minThe irony of democratic backsliding is a lot of these things are pitched to people and understood by people as actually pro-democratic. Noam Lupu Support for democracy is rising across the Americas after more than a decade of decline, but…
-
Alexander Cooley and Alexander Dukalskis Fear Autocracies Are Hijacking the International Order
September 2, 2026 · 50 minThere was an assumption that influence could only run one direction... but influence could run the other direction as well. Alexander Cooley Authoritarian governments are exercising growing influence not only within their own borders but…
-
Suzanne Mettler Says the Rural-Urban Divide Threatens American Democracy
August 19, 2026 · 49 minWe barely disagree with each other, but we can't stand one another's party. Suzanne Mettler Suzanne Mettler is the John L. Senior Professor of American Institutions at Cornell University. She is the coauthor of Four Threats with Robert…
Show 7 more episodesShow fewer episodes
-
Rachel Beatty Riedl Says Economic Inequality Is Fueling Democratic Backsliding
August 5, 2026 · 47 minI'm by nature optimistic, but am extremely worried because of the structural moment we live in. Rachel Beatty Riedl Political scientist Rachel Beatty Riedl joins host Justin Kempf to examine how extreme economic inequality and the growing…
-
Kim Lane Scheppele on Hungary's Narrow Path Back to Democracy
July 22, 2026 · 52 minYou can only get to the point of restoring democratic institutions if you win the last election with such a huge majority that you really have the public with you as you make radical change. Kim Lane Scheppele Kim Lane Scheppele is the…
-
Jeffrey Kopstein Explains Why Polarization Turns Violent
July 8, 2026 · 46 minThe question is not whether polarization is dangerous, but the conditions under which it becomes violent. Jeffrey Kopstein Jeffrey Kopstein joins the Democracy Paradox to discuss when polarization turns violent. Drawing on his Journal of…
-
Pepper Culpepper Says Good Populism Can Save Democracy
June 24, 2026 · 49 minWe think the next ten years are going to be anti-billionaire. Pepper Culpepper Pepper Culpepper joins the Democracy Paradox to discuss when populism can strengthen democracy. Drawing on his Journal of Democracy article “When Populism Can…
-
Dan Slater Says Authoritarian Ideologies Still Matter
June 10, 2026 · 47 minWe think of World War II as this global democratizing event, but what it really did was strengthen left-wing authoritarianism. Dan Slater Dan Slater is the James Orin Murfin Professor of Political Science and the Director of the Center of…
-
Guillermo Trejo on Accountability, Impunity, and the Fate of New Democracies
May 27, 2026 · 58 minWhat happens when the violent state forged under autocracy survives into democracy? Guillermo Trejo In this episode of The Democracy Paradox, Kellogg faculty fellow Guillermo Trejo discusses his new book, Accountability Shock, coauthored…
-
Kenneth Roberts Says the Left Pays a Steep Price for Breaking with Democracy
May 13, 2026 · 47 minThe left pays a very steep price when they break with democratic norms and procedures. Kenneth Roberts Kenneth Roberts is the Richard J. Schwartz Professor of Government at Cornell University. He is the coauthor (with Santiago Anria) of…
About the show
Is it possible for a democracy to govern undemocratically? Can the people elect an undemocratic leader? Is it possible for democracy to bring about authoritarianism? And if so, what does this say about democracy? My name is Justin Kempf. Every week I talk to the brightest minds on subjects like international relations, political theory, and history to explore democracy from every conceivable angle. Topics like civil resistance, authoritarian successor parties, and the autocratic middle class challenge our ideas about democracy. Join me as we unravel new topics every week.